Unrepentant Jones sticks to his methods
A defiant Eddie Jones has brushed off renewed criticism about his methods and warned his players to avoid the ‘‘poison’’ that is floating around the team.
Jones and his England players have copped a pasting since their shock loss to France in the Six Nations opener in France last weekend.
England World Cup winner Kyran Bracken called for Jones to be replaced ‘‘right now’’ by an English coach while fellow former star Matt Dawson and World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward have criticised Jones for the regular media ammunition he provides opposition teams.
But Jones stood firm as he prepared his team to play Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend.
‘‘When I first started coaching, a very famous coach said to me that if you listen to the fans you end up in the grandstand with them,’’ Australian Jones said.
‘‘That’s always been my philosophy. Kyran is entitled to his own opinion and I’m sure it’s a very good opinion. He might have a point; it should be an English coach!’’
Jones wants his players to follow his lead and also turn a deaf ear to the ‘‘poison’’ that inevitably flows following a bad loss.
‘‘Noise is always a factor and more and more so today with social media – it is in the players’ faces,’’ he told the BBC.
‘‘They like social media, they want to be a part of social media and when it turns like this, it is difficult for them.
‘‘We have to make sure they keep their focus. They have to understand what is important.
‘‘There will always be criticism, there will always be praise, we just try and minimise the poison they take in.’’
Jones has continued to poke his opponents though, labelling Scotland ‘‘niggly’’ as they get set to meet at Murrayfield.
He also couldn’t resist another dig at Bracken as he looked at why his team had been so disappointing in Paris.
‘‘Some days we are good, some days we are not so good. We are humans. I think I know the reasons and we will make sure we don’t prepare like that again,’’ Jones said.
‘‘We deliberately had a light preparation because I am worried about the players’ workload and I want them to finish the tournament full of running. I could have done more for that first game so it was my fault. That is why we should have an English coach.’’
Meanwhile, Wales’ Kiwi coach Wayne Pivac has hit out at inflammatory comments made by counterparts and
‘‘There will always be criticism, there will always be praise, we just try and minimise the poison they take in.’’
Eddie Jones
opposition players in the first two weeks of the Six Nations, akin to those made by Jones and England flanker Lewis Ludlam.
This weekend’s matches:
■ Tomorrow 3.15am: Ireland v Wales
■ Tomorrow 5.45am: Scotland v England
■ Monday 4am: France v Italy
Jones warned the French last week that they would be facing ‘‘absolute brutality’’ – before losing – while this week Ludlam said of Scotland: ‘‘They hate us, we hate them.’’
‘‘‘Hate’ is a pretty strong word, and I don’t think there’s any need for that,’’ Pivac said.
‘‘We talk about getting in the trenches, because all teams do. Yes, it’s a gladiatorial sport, and you’ve got to have the mindset right.’’
With a ‘‘brutal’’ weather forecast for Dublin tomorrow, Pivac says it will likely be a day when his instincts to move the ball wide at every opportunity against Ireland might not be wise.
Yet, after making only one personnel change to the starting XV who beat Italy 42-0 in Cardiff last weekend – Nick Tompkins rewarded for his brilliance off the bench by being picked for his first start at centre, with George North moving to the wing – Pivac outlined his confidence in the grand slam titleholders to win ugly.
‘‘We’ve said all along we want to evolve the attack, but it’s got to have a common-sense approach attached to it,’’ he said. ‘‘If the conditions dictate, then we have to win games through an arm wrestle as well.’’
Johnny McNicholl essentially makes way for the inclusion of Tompkins. Gareth Davies displaces Rhys Webb from the bench.